Advance Auto Parts, Inc. vs Applied Materials, Inc. — how do they compare? Advance Auto Parts, Inc. trades at $52.62 (market cap $3.19B), while Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $550 (market cap $417.31B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 130.8× Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s market cap, and Advance Auto Parts, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.89%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AAP | AMAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.19B | $417.31B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $64.17 | $723.00 |
52-Week Low | $38.75 | $156.25 |
Enterprise Value | $5.47B | $416.34B |
Dividend Yield | 1.89% | 0.4% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Advance Auto Parts (AAP) trades at $55.73, down 3.58% today, reflecting bearish technical signals amid mixed fundamentals. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $0.77, beating expectations, with revenue at $8.6 billion for 2025 but a slim net income margin of 0.51%. Recent news highlights restructuring efforts and AI-driven delivery initiatives to stabilize operations.
The outlook is cautious; while valuation ratios like P/S of 0.37 appear attractive, weak profitability and negative operating cash flow pose risks. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $61.30 price target, but high debt and competitive pressures require monitoring for sustained turnaround progress.
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $522.12, down 3.16% on the day, amid a neutral technical signal with support at $510 and resistance at $546. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.86 surpassing the $2.68 forecast. Strong profitability is evident with a net margin of 29.31% and ROE of 39.69%, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 49.45 are elevated. Recent news highlights robust AI-driven demand in semiconductor equipment, with CEO Gary Dickerson calling it the industry's strongest period ever (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus with a $662.82 price target and 76.9% buy ratings, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and cyclical semiconductor capital spending. Revenue growth to $29.0B in 2026 with a projected 29.31% net margin supports upside, though investors should monitor competitive pressures and macroeconomic impacts on tech spending.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Advance Auto Parts is one of the industry's largest retailers of aftermarket automotive parts, tools, and accessories to do-it-yourself customers in North America. Advance operated 4,972 stores as of the end of 2021, in addition to servicing 1,317 independently owned Carquest stores. The company's Worldpac unit is a premier distributor of imported original-equipment parts. Advance derived 58% of its 2021 sales from commercial clients, up from 30%-40% before the General Parts deal.
Read more on AAP →Applied Materials is the world's largest supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, providing materials engineering solutions to help make nearly every chip in the world. The firm's systems are used in nearly every major process step with the exception of lithography. Key tools include those for chemical and physical vapor deposition, etching, chemical mechanical polishing, wafer- and reticle-inspection, critical dimension measurement, and defect-inspection scanning electron microscopes.
Read more on AMAT →